A call to civic duty - with a side of fun
Norfolk's moderator, Daniel Winslow, has an unusual birthday request. When he turns 50 on Tuesday, he wants to see perhaps 600 residents, or 10 percent of the town's registered voters, show up for Town Meeting.
And he's planning quite a shindig for them.
The first order of business will be a free spaghetti supper, paid for by Winslow, state Senator Scott Brown, state Representative Richard Ross, and
"I think there's been a dearth of democracy in Massachusetts and in Norfolk, and we have to do whatever we can to encourage civic participation and engagement," Winslow said.
Winslow, who was first elected as overseer of Town Meeting's proceedings last year, has been advertising this spring's annual session with signs around town and public service announcements on cable television featuring local Boy Scouts.
"We're trying to make it a commu nity event and to create some excitement about Town Meeting, which really is a celebration of democracy," Winslow said.
Winslow has also arranged for Red Sox tickets and gift certificates to local businesses to be raffled off to residents who show up on Town Meeting's second night, when attendance typically drops dramatically.
Other Norfolk officials are praising Winslow for the effort.
"I think it's wonderful," Selectman Jim Lehan said. "I remember days when we used to get 500 or 600 people at Town Meeting, and I'd like to see those days come back."
Town Clerk Gail Bernardo said attendance for the first night of Town Meeting has hovered at about 250 to 300 residents in recent years.
She said that while she welcomes the changes, past attempts to boost attendance - including holding sessions on a Saturday - have been unfruitful. "I applaud his efforts, but we'll have to wait and see," Bernardo said.
Advisory Board chairman James Tomaszewski said "it certainly doesn't hurt" to implement the new initiatives, but controversial issues are what draws voters.
At Tuesday's session, residents are to take up two proposed property-tax increases - one for $715,000 to cover general operating expenses, and one for $575,000 for architectural and engineering costs for a new police and fire station. The requests to override Proposition 2 1/2 also require voter approval at the polls if they pass Town Meeting.
Other articles would create an economic development corporation with authority to take land via eminent domain, and appropriate $500,000 for a feasibility study for a new elementary school. Half that money would eventually be reimbursed by the state, town officials said.
The warrant also includes an article to amend Town Meeting procedures, submitted by a study group established by Winslow. The new rules would speed up the meetings, which would in turn drive up attendance, Winslow said.
One provision would lump routine items to be voted on together. Another would establish an organizational meeting prior to Town Meeting, when officials could discuss the expected length of debate on various articles. If adopted, the new rules would go into effect for subsequent Town Meetings.
Winslow acknowledged that, despite his best efforts, he may not see a huge spike in attendance Tuesday.
"It may not work the first time, but it's certainly worth the effort," he said.
Town Meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at King Philip Regional Middle School.
